I am glad to have had you near me when I was too young to understand and now that I am too old to remember when I was too young to understand. But, I see the pictures and I see your face and you were always smiling. You were always proud.

There were several times, when I was far away and homesick, that you told me that I was where I needed to be. You never made me feel guilty about being away and always encouraged me to go even farther- if that was where I wanted to go. You did that with all of us. It is because of you and Mom that my idea of home is ever-expanding. And I love you for that.

I love that you never belittled me or made me feel ashamed of being a sensitive kid. I love that you'd hug me hello and goodbye. I love that you cried at sad movies. I love that you started every phone conversation with, "Hey, Guy!" And ended every phone conversation with, "I love you." I loved your laugh, Dad. With all that had happened to you, you were always still so ready to laugh.It is so strange now that I feel you everywhere, but I cannot pull you down and see you. And I wish I could.

I cannot remember when it was that I last saw you. I know the time period. But, I can't remember the actual moment. I know it was in Ohio. And I know that we, at one point in the trip, went to that restaurant that you loved in Middlefield. I always forget the name of it. But, I know the feel of it. It feels like you. It feels like the last time that we ate there. And I don't know what we talked about. Simple things. But, we laughed. I know we did. We always laughed. And we hugged when we said goodbye and we said, "I love you." And that is how I'll always remember you.I know there is something more to being that I do not completely understand and I know you are now teaching me about it. And, though I cannot see you, I know you are always smiling. And, in all that I do not understand, I do know one thing. You have never been far away. I love you, Dad. Thanks for all our time.